Due to complaints of widespread abuse involving calls to 900 numbers, or "pay-per-call" services, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) first adopted rules to govern such services in 1991. The FCC later strengthened the rules relating to pay-per-call services, and adopted rules governing information services provided using 800 numbers and other toll-free numbers.
What Is Pay-Per-Call Service?
Pay-per-call service, offered only using a 900 number, is any service:
- providing audio information or entertainment;
- providing access to simultaneous voice conversation;
- including the provision of a product, where charges are assessed on the basis of completion of the call; or
- for which the caller pays a per-call or per-time charge greater than the charge for the transmission of the call.
Other information services that may be offered through numbers other than 900 numbers (for example through an 800 or other toll-free number) include certain directory services, or services for which users are assessed charges only after entering a prior payment or subscription arrangement. It is important to note that, given these definitions, not all 800 calls are toll-free calls.
Phone Calls to Toll-Free Numbers
Calls placed using 800 and other prefixes like 888, 877, and 866 are widely understood to be toll-free. Such calls, however, can sometimes be connected to a service that will charge you for accessing information. If you dial an 800, 888, 877, or 866 number, the information service provider receiving your call cannot connect you automatically to a 900 number service and cannot call you back collect. You can only be charged after calling an 800 number for information if:
- you have entered into a written agreement with the company offering the 800 number information services that includes:
- the amount you will be charged for each call;
- the information service provider's name, business address, and phone number; and
- a unique PIN or other security device to prevent unauthorized charges to your account.
- you are charged for the information through a credit, prepaid, debit, charge, or calling card. Before you can be charged for a call to an 800 number, the service provider must provide an introductory message telling you:
- there is a charge for the call;
- the service provider's total cost per minute and any other fees;
- charges will be billed on a credit, prepaid, debit, charge, or calling card, and asking for your credit card number;
- charges for the call will begin at the end of the introductory message; and
- you can hang up during the introductory message or at the end of the introductory message and will not be charged for the call.
No written agreement is required for calls to 800 numbers that charge for using devices to provide telecommunications services to persons with hearing or speech disabilities. Similarly, no written agreement is required for directory services provided by a telephone company, or for the purchase of goods or services that do not qualify as information services.
Your Telephone Bill
Charges for 900 pay-per-call and 800 number information services should be displayed in a section of your telephone bill that is clearly separate from your local and long distance telephone charges. For each call made to a pay-per-call service, information regarding the type of service, the amount of the charge, the date and time of day, and length of the call must be indicated. Information service providers must notify their customers at least one billing cycle prior to making any changes in their charges or terms of service.
Your telephone company cannot disconnect your local or long distance service for nonpayment of disputed 900 or 800 number charges. Your telephone company can, however, block you from making calls to 900 numbers if you do not pay legitimate 900 number charges.
Blocking 900 Numbers
In most areas, you can ask your local telephone company to block 900 number dialing from your phone and the company must do so at no charge. You must ask within 60 days of beginning new telephone service. The company can charge a reasonable one-time fee if you ask for blocking outside the 60-day period. If you decide to remove the 900 number dialing block, your request to your local telephone company must be in writing.
How to File a Complaint with the FCC
You must include your name, address, contact information and as much detail about your complaint as possible. To file a complaint, please visit www.fcc.gov/complaints. You can also file your complaint with the FCC’s Consumer Center by calling 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) voice or 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) for TTY; or writing to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, D.C. 20554.
Filing a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FCC can process your complaint about information service providers that are also telephone companies subject to its jurisdiction. Many information service providers, however, are not telephone companies. If you have a complaint about an information service provider that you know is not a telephone company, you can file it with the FTC.
You can file a complaint with the FTC online. You can also file a complaint by calling the FTC toll-free at 1-877-382-4357 (voice) or 1-866-653-4261 (TTY), or writing to:
Federal Trade Commission
CRC-240
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580
For More Information
For information about other communications issues, visit the FCC’s Consumer website, or contact the FCC’s Consumer Center using the information provided for filing a complaint.
Print Out
900 Pay-Per-Call and Other Information Services Guide (pdf)
Updated: October 29, 2014
